Families are under attack

AM+DG

Families are under attack today in so many ways – spiritually, morally and temporally. The law mandates now that there are all sorts of families eg. co-parented families,  same sex parent families, three parent families, broken families, families created through surrogates, families of co-habiting, unmarried couples and families of couples with ‘open’ marriages. Large families are discriminated against. Abortion and euthanasia laws are slaughtering millions of true family members; divorce laws are tearing families apart; transgender laws are destroying our children’s true identities and laws make it easy to live together without permanent commitment thereby eroding the base and security of the family. The family and the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony are no longer revered. And since chastity is also no longer revered either, is it any wonder that The Holy Family Itself is not given the reverence and wonder which is its due?

Today, in the Traditional Rite (Latin Mass) – we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The Holy Family had to struggle from the very beginning.

Joseph and Mary had to undertake quite a journey – they had no choice – it was the law – they had to register for a census. Mary, with her Babe almost due, rode a donkey – imagine the bumpy ride and the discomfort – and Joseph’s concern.The journey was long and arduous and over rough terrain.

They finally  reached Bethlehem, but so had thousands of other people. It was crowded and the inns were full. No-one seemed to have any compassion. Finally they found a stable – a cold, dark, damp and probably smelly (due to the animals)  place. But there was nowhere else to stay. I imagine Joseph tried his best to make it comfortable, spreading dry straw around and perhaps using his cloak as a blanket on the straw.

Some poor and lowly shepherds were the first to visit their new-born King. Finally, the Three Kings arrived to pay him homage. But they couldn’t relax.

An angel told Joseph he had to leave – immediately – during the night – because Jesus’ life was in danger. They had to go to Egypt. Imagine trying to face this journey – with not much notice – gathering a few meagre supplies for this long journey through the desert.

When they got there, they were in a strange land. Joseph had to somehow work and provide for his family. But he trusted in God and finally was told – 7 years later, that it was safe to return.

The Book of Truth describes some of these difficulties:

“When my time approached, every obstacle, planted by the spirit of evil, was placed before us, every step we took. Doors were slammed in our faces; people we knew shunned us and we were cast out into the wilderness. And so we ended up without a roof over our heads and in a shelter fit only for animals, while the Holy Messiah came into the world as a pauper. There were no ceremonies, no coronation, no acknowledgements. There were only a few people left to comfort me in my loneliness. But then, when my Son was born, all feelings of anxiety left me. All I felt was a love of the most Divine Presence. Peace finally reigned in my Heart.   …

When it was made known that Jesus Christ, the Messiah promised to humanity, was born, the opposition began to mount. The vicious attack by Herod and all his servants, demonstrated how much the Presence of God puts fear into the hearts of evil men.

From that day forward, I became the protector of my Son and my beloved spouse, Joseph, organized our safety on many occasions after that. We spent many years fleeing from one place to another. So much opposition we faced – so much fear, so much hatred. That was our lot…

And now that His Second Coming is imminent, every obstacle will be placed before His Arrival. Every Word out of the mouth of His prophet will be torn asunder and mocked. Only a handful of people will be privy to the Truth surrounding this Mission and many doors will be slammed in the faces of those who follow His instructions. This Mission is a lonely one for you, my child, and you are instructed to remain obedient in all things made known to you by God. …”

Read the complete message at: https://missionofsalvation.com/message-1010/

So for us, too, in the face of all difficulties, the presence of  Jesus brings us peace.

Families today also suffer persecution – also from their own (eg the Catholic Church today and from many of the bishops and priests).

We are all part of God’s family – the Christian family. They still want to kill Jesus  (Head of our family) – to get rid of God in the world. They have introduced paganism, changed  and questioned church teachings, blasphemed against Jesus and our Holy Mother Mary. Some do not want to recognise the True Father of Jesus or to recognise Him as His Son.

Let’s not forget the power of the Holy Rosary.  It is our weapon. It will bind the evil one. We need to do this now, more than ever. We need it for protection. Remember the miracles of Lepanto, Vienna, Hiroshima, Brazil …? There are many other amazing miracles. It is the prayer that Our lady asked us to pray in many of her apparitions.

To pray this together in our families today, and everyday,  is a must!

We have to safeguard our own immediate families and keep them true to God and to their Faith, and in so doing, we can help to keep the True Faith, and God, present in the world today, in order to defeat evil.

After Mass today, our priest led the congregation in the following prayer:

Consecration to the Holy Family

“O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us The holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities, that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Saviour Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity. Amen.”